Artem Lobov has expressed his wish that Conor McGregor had taken his preparation for the fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov more seriously. McGregor faced Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018, where he suffered a submission loss in the fourth round. This bout remains significant as it generated historic pay-per-view sales for the UFC and followed McGregor’s lucrative boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
Reflecting on McGregor’s performance, Lobov pointed out that the Irish fighter’s previous match against Eddie Alvarez showcased what was arguably McGregor’s best form, where he dominated and claimed the title of the UFC’s first dual-champion. Lobov believes that if McGregor had been at his peak fitness and mindset, the outcome against Nurmagomedov could have been different, and he even hints that this might entice Khabib to return to the octagon.
“I would love to see him come back, because I feel that if he was at 100 percent, we would be able to bring Khabib back,” Lobov remarked during “The Ariel Helwani Show.” He recalled trying to motivate McGregor for a more intense training regime, noting that McGregor had limited training sessions while he was in a party-focused mindset at the time.
Additionally, Lobov and McGregor’s relationship has become strained, evolving from close friends and training partners to adversaries embroiled in legal disputes over McGregor’s Proper Twelve whiskey brand. In a bid to further his own career, Lobov also announced that he will fight Nurmagomedov’s training partner, Zubaira Tukhugov, at a PFL event scheduled for October 3 in Dubai.
Lobov’s comments reveal not only his concern for McGregor’s previous approach but also a desire to see a more prepared and focused McGregor in future bouts. This sentiment highlights the impact preparation and mindset can have on an athlete’s performance and still leaves fans hopeful for potential matchups that could rekindle the excitement surrounding these iconic fighters.